The solemn High Mass presided over by the Most Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, to bless the New Year 2014, was celebrated at 11.45 pm on 31st December 2013 in Holy Apostles Peter & Paul garden of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, at 11.45 pm on 31st December 2013.
The Most Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, who addressed devotees who converged in Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, greeted them at the moment when the New Year dawned and drew their attention to the value of time.
“We should make a determination in this newly dawned year not to waste the time but to manage every second for the benefit our own life”.
Continuing his Homily, the Most Holy Apostle reflected the following.
“Each and every new day you will get 86400 seconds. On the first day of this newly dawned year, that means today, you got 86400 seconds for the day of today. Similarly, every day in this newly dawned year, you will get the same number of seconds for 365 times. That amount of time is worth more than the value of money. If you measure it by any currency, either by Rupees, Dollars or in Euros, these 86400 seconds, is worth more than the value of those currencies. Don’t just waste the valuable time which is worth more than the value of money”.
The Most Holy Apostle further reflected the following while devotees were attentively listening to his first homily of the newly dawned year.
“Even though you get 86400 seconds per day, out of that, how many seconds you make use for a virtuous cause? Out of that also how may seconds you allocate to gather merits? Certainly, you are allocating more time not for virtuous causes but for evil things. Won’t you spend more time to have a sleep? Sleep is necessary. It is necessary not to become lazy but for the existence of life. Make good use of the time. Don’t waste time. Time will not stop because of you. Make use of the time by living righteously”.
“Be careful how you live. Don’t live like ignorant people, but like wise people. Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days.” (Ephesians 5/15-16)
The Most Holy Apostle, His Holiness Rohan Lalith Aponso, who extracted the above section from the Holy Bible, further reflected the following.
“Lord Jesus Christ managed his time in a useful manner. The above section of the Holy Scriptures was written by Holy Apostle Paul, the 1st Apostle who was chosen by Lord Jesus Christ by appearing in this world. Apostle Paul was an Apostle, who managed his time systematically without allowing it to go waste”.
Finally, the Most Holy Apostle concluded his New Year Homily by reflecting the following.
“Gather merits as much as you can during this period of your journey of life. Do things that are good. Do whatever possible to gather merits. Think in a virtuous manner. Do not waste time that you have got in your journey of life. Gather merits. Do not commit sins. You have to gather lots of merits. You have to have a desire to gather merits. Then, one day, you will feel that you have used the valuable time that you got in your journey of life, in a useful manner”.
These photos show various segments of the solemn High Mass that was celebrated to bless the New Year 2014
